New Guinea Impatiens plant named Celebration Light Lavender

ABSTRACT

A distinct New Guinea Impatiens plant named Celebration Light Lavender characterized by its iridescent lavender flower color, large flowers, uniform and compact habit, variegated leaves, floriferous habit, and excellent branching.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as New Guinea Impatiens andknown by the cultivar name Celebration Light Lavender. The new cultivarwas developed by me through controlled breeding by crossing the cultivaridentified as Linda Vista selection #148 with the cultivar identified asLinda Vista selection #560. Both cultivars are selections of PanAmerican Seed, Linda Vista, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings taken at West Chicago, Ill.,has shown that the unique features of this new New Guinea Impatiens arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics in combination distinguish the newimpatiens from other impatiens cultivars of this type known and used inthe floriculture industry.

1. Intense lavender flower color.

2. Uniform and compact habit.

3. Floriferous habit, with numerous breaks and freely flowering.

4. Large flowers.

5. Variegated foliage.

6. Flowers are positioned above the foliage in uniform display.

The new cultivar can be compared in flower color to the impatienscultivar Comet, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,920, although thelavender flower color of Celebration Light Lavender is somewhat darkerand more intense. Reference is made to attached Chart A which notesdissimilar characteristics between the respective cultivars. Tosummarize, compared to Comet, Celebration Light Lavender has a moreuniform and compact habit, flowers which are held above the foliage in auniform display, more freely flowering, more breaks per plant, adifferent foliage variegation pattern, and slightly larger flowers.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof this cultivar, showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new New Guinea Impatienscultivar based on plants produced under commercial practice in WestChicago, Ill., in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures of24° to 26° C. and night temperatures of 18° to 20° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Propagation:

A. Type cutting.--Terminal tip.

B. Time to initiate roots.--5 days at 24° C. summer; 7 days at 21° C.winter.

C. Rooting habit.--Fibrous, branching.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Freely branching, vigorous.

B. Habit of growth.--Spreading, upright but compact habit, 22 cm. by 24cm.; asymmetrical

C. Foliage.--1. Size: 7.5 to 8.5 cm. in length, 4 cm. wide. 2. Shape:Ovate, acuminate tip with attenuate base. 3. Texture: Smooth. 4. Margin:Finely serrated. 5. Color: Green with yellow variegation. Young foliage:Top side 137A; under side 137B. Mature foliage: Top side 137A; underside 138B. 6. Variegation: 3B. 7. Venation: 55C.

Flowering description:

A. Flowering habits.--Freely flowering.

B. Natural flowering season.--Year-round in greenhouse environment.

C. Flower bud shape and color.--Conical, 143B.

D. Flowers borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils.

E. Quantity of flowers.--8 to 10 per branch.

F. Petals.--1. Shape: Cordate. 2. Color: Lavender with white eye,iridescent. Top side, 77B when opening, 77B at maturity, fading to 75A.Under side 75B. 3. Number of petals: 5. 4. Size of flowers: 5 cm.(width)×5.5 cm. (length).

G. Reproductive organs.--1. Stamens: 5 in number. a. Anther shape:Oblong. b. Anther color: 10D. c. Pollen color: 11C. 2. Pistils: a.Stigma shape: Round. b. Stigma color: 154D. c. Style color: 143A. d.Ovary number: Superior, 5-celled. e. Ovary size: 0.75 cm. (length). f.Ovary color: 143C.

Disease resistance: No fungal or bacterial problems observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                                     Celebration                                                      Characteristic                                                                             Light Lavender                                                                              Comet                                              ______________________________________                                        Plant height 7.5 cm.       9 cm.                                              Plant diameter                                                                             22 cm. by 24 cm;                                                                            14-20 cm.                                                       asyrommetrical                                                   Branches/plant                                                                             6             4                                                  Foliage color                                                                 Top side     137A, variegated                                                                            137A, variegated                                                with 3B       with 154A                                          Flower color                                                                  Top side     77B           81C                                                Flower size  5.5 cm. × 5 cm.                                                                       5 cm. × 4.5 cm.                              ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed Celebration Light Lavender, as illustrated and described.